Bruin, Cruz return in Reserves defeat

The Houston Dynamo saw regulars Will Bruin and Danny Cruz return from injury and newcomer Luiz Camargo make his first game appearance in an MLS Reserve League match on Thursday morning, but the Dynamo fell to a 3-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The loss drops the Dynamo to 4-3, but they remain in second place in the Central/Mountain Division of the MLS Reserve League.

The Dynamo Reserves are next in action on Saturday, Sept. 10, taking on Sporting Kansas City shortly after the league match between the two teams.

Bruin and Cruz both came on as substitutes in the second half, with Bruin playing 36 minutes and heading a shot wide from a corner kick and Cruz playing the last 23 minutes. Camargo, the 24-year-old Brazilian who arrived in Houston last week, played 82 minutes as a central midfielder.

Colorado was led by the decisive finishing of forwards Quincy Amarikwa, who scored in just the fourth minute, and Andre Akpan, who netted goals either side of halftime. After beginning the reserve season winless in five games, Colorado has now beaten the top two teams in the Central/Mountain Division - Chicago and Houston - in its last two games.

Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric had a busy first half with six saves, including a stop on a breakaway and a full-extension stop to the far post. Thursday's game also saw appearances from Dynamo Academy defenders Christian Gonzalez (Spring Woods) and Bradley Bourgeois (Cy-Fair), who came on as second-half substitutes.